Blackhawks' top line excels on both ends of ice

Hossa, Toews, Bickell putting up big numbers while shutting opposing top lines down

May 19, 2014|By Shannon Ryan, Chicago Tribune reporter

Marian Hossa's team-leading 13 points through the Stanley Cup playoffs qualify him as a top threat for the Blackhawks. He's tied for second in the NHL in playoff assists with 11.

Jonathan Toews is revered for his game-changing goals as he has racked up six in the playoff and added five assists.

But for them, shutting down an opponent's top line provides just as much of a personal jolt as scoring.

"Scoring goals it's great," Hossa said Monday. "Getting points, great. But getting that challenge when you've got top players, you can steal the puck from them, that's kind of a challenge for me and I enjoy doing it."

Paired together on a top line along with Bryan Bickell, Toews and Hossa have helped the Blackhawks silence opposing top lines. That includes the Kings' in Sunday's 3-1 victory in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

That's no small feat either given the firepower the Kings boast on their top line.

Center Anze Kopitar leads the NHL with 19 points in the postseason, scoring five goals with an NHL-best 14 assists. Winger Marian Gaborik, who was picked up at the trade deadline from the Blue Jackets, leads the league with nine playoff goals and ranks second in points with 15.

The Kings got off 26 shots on goal, including none by Kopitar and three each from Gaborik and Dustin Brown, the team's captain who also plays on the top line.

"I thought we played a hell of a game," Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. "There are little turnovers. That's going to happen. We had a lot of good opportunities. Teams are pretty close, I think."

The Kings surely will hope for better results in Game 2 on Wednesday at the United Center.

The Blackhawks, while using different top line combinations, have earned a reputation for shutting down opponents. As much as their star power is related to scoring, their defense catches opponents' attention.

The Wild's top line (Zach Parise, Jason Pominville and Mikael Granlund) combined for four goals in six games against the Hawks.

Toews said containing the Kings' top line is a group effort. Having a goaltender like Corey Crawford, who made 25 saves in Game 1, helps too.

"It's part of defending against Kopitar's line, regardless of who he plays with, he's going to be effective," Toews said after Game 1. "The best way to do that is just to keep him in his own zone and make him have to worry about playing defense. I'm lucky I've got Hossa out there too. If I make a mistake out there, he's hauling back to make up for it. I think with (Bickell) as well, we've been playing smart defensively, getting pucks out of our zone."

Hossa said the best offense can be a good defense.

"The best way to defend is playing in their zone and if you're playing in their zone, you've got scoring chances," he said.